Processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable medium for presenting a customization screen

ABSTRACT

A processing apparatus includes a function-screen processing unit and a customization-screen processing unit. The function-screen processing unit arranges setting-item elements in order, the setting-item elements corresponding to respective setting items to be displayed, the setting items being a portion of a group of setting items corresponding to a function provided to a user, and performs processing for presenting, to the user, a function screen on which a customization element for receiving a request for a customization operation is arranged after the arranged group of setting-item elements. The customization-screen processing unit performs, in a case where the user has performed an operation to request the customization operation on the customization element, processing for presenting, to the user, a customization screen through which, for each setting item in the group of setting items, specification of whether the setting item is to be displayed is received.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2016-207700 filed Oct. 24, 2016.

BACKGROUND (i) Technical Field

The present invention relates to a processing apparatus, an imageforming apparatus, and a non-transitory computer readable medium.

(ii) Related Art

Image forming apparatuses such as printers, scanners, facsimile devices,copiers, and multifunction machines (devices having functions such as aprinter function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function) havefunctions such as a print function, a scan function, and a copyfunction. For each of the functions, there are many setting items. Forexample, in the case of the copy function, there are significantly manysetting items such as various setting items regarding the number ofcopies, paper, magnification, a color mode, two-sided copy, sortation,stapling, and image-quality adjustment, various setting items regardinga document reading method, various setting items regarding binding, andmany more. Since it is impossible to display all of these great manysetting items on a single user interface (UI) screen, a known generalimage forming apparatus divides a group of setting items intocategories, and provides tabbed UI pages corresponding to the respectivecategories. Each UI page has a size that falls within a display screenof the image forming apparatus, and graphical user interface (GUI)elements for entering inputs regarding some setting items are arrangedon the UI page. For example, a group of GUI elements for setting itemssuch as magnification and paper selection for which settings are oftenchanged is arranged on a main page first displayed when the UI screenfor the copy function is opened. The UI pages corresponding to therespective categories such as image-quality adjustment, a readingmethod, and a binding type are prepared behind the main page, and one ofthe UI pages is displayed in response to selection of a correspondingtab. The GUI elements arranged within the UI pages may include, forexample, a button for calling another page to set more detailed items.In this manner, the known tabbed UI screen has a hierarchical structure.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a processingapparatus including a function-screen processing unit and acustomization-screen processing unit. The function-screen processingunit arranges setting-item elements in order, the setting-item elementsbeing display elements corresponding to respective setting items to bedisplayed, the setting items being a portion of a group of setting itemscorresponding to a function provided to a user, and performs processingfor presenting, to the user, a function screen on which a customizationelement that is a display element for receiving a request for acustomization operation is arranged after the arranged group ofsetting-item elements. The customization-screen processing unitperforms, in a case where the user has performed an operation to requestthe customization operation on the customization element within thepresented function screen, processing for presenting, to the user, acustomization screen through which, for each of the setting items in thegroup of setting items corresponding to the function, specification ofwhether the setting item is to be displayed is received.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described indetail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functionalconfiguration of a user interface (UI) mechanism of an image formingapparatus according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a diagram for describing a screen configuration of a functionscreen of one function;

FIG. 3 is a diagram for describing a screen configuration in the casewhere a function screen is displayed on a display screen of the imageforming apparatus;

FIGS. 4A to 4C are diagrams for describing the way in which a menuportion and a footer portion of a function screen for a copy functionare displayed in a scrolling region of the display screen in ascrollable manner;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the content of data ofuser settings in a setting holding unit;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which one menuitem in the menu portion is being operated so that a set value of themenu item is changed;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of display of acustomization screen;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which onesetting item within the customization screen is being operated so that adisplay flag of the setting item is changed;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a portion of a procedure forfunction-screen display control performed by a UI management unit; and

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the rest of the procedure forfunction-screen display control performed by the UI management unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A user interface (UI) mechanism of an image forming apparatus accordingto an exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1.Examples of the image forming apparatus include a printer, a scanner, acopier, a facsimile, and a multifunction machine (a device havingfunctions such as, for example, a printer function, a scanner function,and a copier function).

The UI mechanism of the image forming apparatus according to theexemplary embodiment includes a UI management unit 10, a user-operationreception unit 20, a user management unit 30, a customization managementunit 40, and a setting holding unit 50.

The UI management unit 10 generates a UI screen to be displayed on adisplay device (for example, a touch panel) of the image formingapparatus, and transfers, to an application in the image formingapparatus, an input from a user through the UI screen. Applications forrealizing functions provided by the image forming apparatus to users areinstalled in the image forming apparatus, the applications including,for example, an application for a copy function and an application for aprint function. These applications receive, from the UI management unit10, commands and values input by a user, and realize processingspecified by the user by controlling various units (for example, a paperfeed mechanism and a print mechanism) within the image forming apparatusin accordance with these commands and values.

The UI management unit 10 displays a home screen (not illustrated) asone of UI screens on the display device. Buttons corresponding tofunctions, such as copy, print, scan, and facsimile, provided by theimage forming apparatus to users are arranged on the home screen. When auser presses, on the home screen, a button corresponding to a functionthat the user wants to use, the display device displays a functionscreen for various settings for the function and for receiving input ofan execution command for the function. Display of the function screen isexecuted by a function-screen display 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a function screen 100 according to theexemplary embodiment includes a header portion 110, a main portion 120,a menu portion 130, and a footer portion 140, which are arranged inorder from the top. The header portion 110 is displayed in an upperfixed region 210 of a display screen 200 (see FIG. 3) of the displaydevice. In contrast, the main portion 120, the menu portion 130, and thefooter portion 140 are displayed in a scrollable manner in a scrollingregion 220 of the display screen 200. The fixed region 210 keepsdisplaying the header portion 110 even when scrolling is performed for adisplay range of the scrolling region 220. Various portions of thefunction screen 100 will be described later with reference to, forexample, FIGS. 3 to 4C. A display image of the header portion 110 isgenerated by a header generation unit 14 in the function-screen display12. Likewise, images of the main portion 120, the menu portion 130, andthe footer portion 140 are generated respectively by a main generationunit 16, a menu generation unit 18, and a footer generation unit 19.

The user-operation reception unit 20 receives operations performed by auser on a UI screen displayed on the display device (a touch panel inthis example).

The user management unit 30 performs authentication of a user operatingthe image forming apparatus. In accordance with authority information(not illustrated) regarding an authenticated user, the user managementunit 30 determines a range of operations that the user is allowed toperform.

The customization management unit 40 performs management for UI-screencustomization. For instance, as an example, the function screen 100 maybe customized in this exemplary embodiment. The function screen 100 iscustomized by selecting a group of setting items to be displayed in themenu portion 130.

The setting holding unit 50 holds, in a nonvolatile storage device,information specified to be saved, the information being included insetting information regarding the image forming apparatus. The settinginformation held by the setting holding unit 50 includes settings offunction screens 100 for the functions provided by the image formingapparatus to users. The setting information regarding the functionscreens 100 includes, for example, information specifying setting itemsto be displayed in the menu portion 130.

In an example, the setting holding unit 50 holds setting information(user settings 52) regarding function screens 100 specific to a user inassociation with a user ID (identification information) of the user. Theuser settings 52 are generated or updated, for example, when the userwho has logged in to the image forming apparatus performs acustomization operation for a function screen 100 among the functionscreens 100. In addition, the setting holding unit 50 may hold groupsettings 54 that are setting information regarding function screens 100set on a group-by-group basis, each group being formed by multipleusers. For example, the groups may include groups based on departmentswithin an organization such as a company (for example, a group called“General Affairs Department”) and groups based on titles in theorganization (for example, a group called “section chiefs and above”).Information regarding a group to which the user belongs may be acquiredfrom, for example, a directory system (not illustrated) of theorganization.

Moreover, the setting holding unit 50 holds common settings 56 that aresetting information regarding function screens 100 common to all userswho use the image forming apparatus. When the image forming apparatus isshipped from the factory, the common settings 56 indicate the content ofdefault settings set by a manufacturer; however, a system administratorof an organization where the image forming apparatus is installed isable to change the content of the settings after the installment.

Next, such a function screen 100 will be described in greater detailwith reference to FIGS. 3 to 4C.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the display screen 200 of the display deviceof the image forming apparatus includes the fixed region 210, which isrelatively narrow and located in the upper part of the display screen200, and the scrolling region 220, which is located below and has alarger area than the fixed region 210.

The header portion 110 of the function screen 100 is displayed in afixed manner (that is, not scrollable) in the fixed region 210. Theheader portion 110 displays graphical-user-interface (GUI) partsexpected to be used in most cases. In the case of the image formingapparatus, such a GUI part may be a start button 114 for issuing acommand to start execution of a function indicated by the functionscreen 100.

FIG. 3 illustrates a display example of a function screen 100 for thecopy function. The header portion 110 displays a label “Copy” indicatingthe copy function, a login button 112, and the start button 114. In astate in which the user has not yet logged in to the image formingapparatus, when the user presses the login button 112, entry fields forauthentication information (for example, a user ID and a password) aredisplayed on the display screen 200. After the user inputs theauthentication information into the entry fields, the user managementunit 30 determines whether the authentication information matchesauthentication information regarding any of registered users (that is,user authentication). The login may be performed before this functionscreen 100 is opened (for example, when the home screen is displayed),or may also be performed at an arbitrary point in time while thisfunction screen 100 is being displayed. The start button 114 is a buttonfor issuing a command to start execution of the function providedthrough the function screen 100 (copy in the example illustrated in FIG.3). When the user presses the start button 114, the content of settingsdisplayed at the moment in the main portion 120 and the menu portion 130is transferred from the UI management unit 10 to a copy application ofthe image forming apparatus. The copy application controls various unitsof the image forming apparatus in accordance with the content of thesettings, and executes specified copy processing.

The scrolling region 220 displays, in a scrollable manner, a section ofthe region constituted by the main portion 120, the menu portion 130,and the footer portion 140 of the function screen 100 (see FIG. 2), thesection falling within the range of the display screen 200. Scrollingfor a display region within the scrolling region 220 is realized bymoving a scroll bar 230 through a finger touch operation.

The main portion 120 is a screen element for performing settingoperations for major setting items regarding the function indicated bythe function screen 100. As illustrated in FIG. 4A, when the scroll bar230 is scrolled to the top of a scrollable range, the main portion 120is displayed in the scrolling region 220. In the illustrated typicalexample, the height of the main portion 120 is less than or equal tothat of the scrolling region 220. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4A,the main portion 120 displays two GUI parts: a number-of-copies field122 and a 10-button keypad 124 for inputting the number of copies in thenumber-of-copies field 122. The number of copies is an item necessaryfor the copy function, and an initial value (default value) is “1”. Thenumber of copies is changed to a number that the user desires every timethe user uses the copy function.

Among the setting items regarding the function, the menu portion 130displays, in a list and in order from the top, a group of setting itemsdifferent from those displayed in the main portion 120. FIG. 4B displaysa state in which a portion of the menu portion 130 is displayed in thescrolling region 220 by moving the scroll bar 230 downward from thestate illustrated in FIG. 4A. As illustrated in FIG. 4B, item names 134and current set values 136 of respective menu items 132 are displayed inthe menu portion 130.

The number of setting items that may be set for a single function,examples of which include copy and print, is significantly large. Thus,when all the setting items are listed as menu items in the menu portion130, the menu portion 130 will be very long and many scroll operationsneed to be performed to display all the items. In addition,corresponding default values are preset for these setting items, and thenumber of setting items for which the user wants to change the setvalues from the default values is not large. Thus, in the exemplaryembodiment, setting items to be displayed in the menu portion 130 may beselectable among all setting items regarding a certain function. Forexample, the user selects, as menu items to be displayed in the menuportion 130, setting items for which the user may relatively frequentlychange the set values, and registers this selection result in usersettings 52 corresponding to the user ID of the user. In addition,regarding user groups determined on the basis of for example departmentsand titles, setting items to be displayed in the menu portion 130 may besimilarly selected and the selection result may also be registered inthe group settings 54. This registration is performed by, for example, asystem administrator registered in the image forming apparatus. Inaddition, the setting items to be displayed in the menu portion 130 whenthe user is not logged in to the image forming apparatus may also besimilarly selected by the system administrator, and the selection resultmay also be registered in the common settings 56.

The user settings 52, the group settings 54, and the common settings 56are prioritized and used in this order. That is, when a user is loggedin to the image forming apparatus, if the user settings 52 correspondingto the user ID of the user are held by the setting holding unit 50, themenu items 132 to be displayed in the menu portion 130 are selected inaccordance with the user settings 52. When there are no user settings 52corresponding to the user ID of the user who is logged in to the imageforming apparatus, if the group settings 54 regarding a group to whichthe user belongs are held by the setting holding unit 50, the menu items132 to be displayed in the menu portion 130 are selected in accordancewith the group settings 54. When there are neither the user settings 52nor the group settings 54 corresponding to the user ID of the user orwhen the user is not logged in to the image forming apparatus, the menuitems 132 to be displayed in the menu portion 130 are selected inaccordance with the common settings 56. Note that default informationregarding a group of setting items determined by the manufacturer of theimage forming apparatus and to be displayed in the menu portion 130 areregistered in the common settings 56 when the image forming apparatus isshipped from the factory. Thus, in the case where the systemadministrator of an organization where the image forming apparatus isinstalled does not change the common settings 56, the defaultinformation is used.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of the content of settings as the usersettings 52. This example illustrates the content of settings 300(hereinafter referred to as setting content 300) as user settings 52 ofa user corresponding to a user ID “User001”. The setting content 300includes setting information 310, 320, and so on regarding functionsprovided by the image forming apparatus to the user such as copy andprint. The setting information 310 or 320 regarding a single functionincludes all setting-item records that the user may set regarding thefunction (each record being a set of data items of a corresponding oneof rows in FIG. 5). Each setting-item record includes an item name 312,a display flag 314, and a set value 316. The display flag 314 isinformation indicating whether or not to display the setting item in themenu portion 130 of the function screen 100 for the function. In FIG. 5,either of two values, “Show” (display) or “Hide” (not display), is usedas the display flag 314. “Show” is used to display the setting item, and“Hide” is used not to display the setting item. The set value 316 is adefault value set for the setting item by the user and specific to theuser.

For example, the setting information 310 regarding the copy functionincludes information regarding setting items such as preset information(Preset), an output color mode (Output Color), two-sided copying(2-Sided), a paper-source tray (Paper Supply), and collated output(Collated). Among these setting items, the display flag 314 for thepreset information (Preset) is set to “not display” (Hide), and fouritems from the output color mode (Output Color) to the collated output(Collated) are set to “display” (Show). Note that the settinginformation 310 regarding the copy function includes many but notillustrated setting items in addition to the illustrated setting items,and those setting items include quite a few setting items set to “Hide”by the user.

In the setting content 300 for the user ID “User001”,setting informationregarding other functions such as print and scan is also registered.

When the user whose user ID is “User001” logs in to the image formingapparatus, the UI management unit 10 loads user settings 52corresponding to “User001” into a work memory. The user settings 52loaded into the work memory indicate a current setting status offunctions for the user. When the user selects the copy function from thehome screen, the UI management unit 10 displays, in the menu portion 130as menu items 132, only setting items whose display flags 314 are set to“display” (Show) among the setting items included in the settinginformation 310 regarding the copy function in the user settings 52 (seeFIG. 5). The set values 136 of the menu items 132 displayed in this caseare the set values 316 registered in the setting information 310. Sincethe set values of the menu items on the work memory have not yet beenchanged at this moment, the set values are the same as the set values inthe setting holding unit 50.

The user confirms the set values 136 of the menu items 132 in the menuportion 130 (see FIG. 4B) displayed on the display screen 200, and whenthe user finds a menu item 132 for which the user wants to change itsset value among the menu items 132, the user touches the menu item 132with his or her finger. In response to this touch operation, the UImanagement unit 10 displays, on the display screen 200, an input dialogfor the set value of the touched menu item 132. FIG. 6 illustrates anexample of a dialog 138 displayed when the output color mode (OutputColor) is touched. The scrolling region 220 behind the dialog 138 isdeactivated (a state in which no input is received). The dialog 138displays, as values for the output color mode, three selectable choices:“automatic detection” (Auto Detect), “color” (Color), and “monochrome”(Black & White). In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, “automaticdetection” (Auto Detect) is the current set value, and a check box tothe left of “automatic detection” (Auto Detect) is selected (solidblack). For example, the user touches the choice “color” (Color) whenthe user wants to change the current set value to “color” (Color). As aresult, the check box to the left of “automatic detection” (Auto Detect)is no longer selected (solid white), and a check box to the left of“color” (Color) is selected. Thereafter the dialog 138 is closed, andthe output color mode (Output Color) of the menu portion 130 in thescrolling region 220 is in a state in which the set value thereof ischanged to “color” (Color). This change affects the set value of thesetting item “output color mode” (Output Color) on the work memory.

Returning back to FIGS. 4B and 4C, the state of the display screen 200displayed when the scroll bar 230 is moved to the lowest position fromthe screen in the state illustrated in FIG. 4B is illustrated in FIG.4C. In this state, the footer portion 140 is displayed at the bottom ofthe display screen 200, and the bottom portion of the menu portion 130is displayed above the footer portion 140. The footer portion 140displays a reset button (Reset) 142, a save button (Save) 144, and acustomize button (Customize) 146.

The reset button 142 is a button for resetting the set values of thesetting items held in the work memory to an initial state. The initialstate in this case is a state at the moment when the user sends acommand to display the function screen 100 for the function. In otherwords, the initial state is the state of a group of set values indicatedby the user settings 52, the group settings 54, or the common settings56 used to display the function screen 100. In addition to the setvalues of the setting items described above, the value of the number ofcopies in the number-of-copies field 122 of the main portion 120 mayalso be reset to an initial value (for example, “1”) in response topressing of the reset button 142.

The save button 144 is a button for saving (storing) information(display flags and set values) regarding the setting items in the workmemory. These set values are saved in the user settings 52 used todisplay the function screen 100. Note that, regarding the menu portion130 displayed on the basis of the group settings 54 or the commonsettings 56, general users are not allowed to perform a save operationby pressing the save button 144.

The customize button 146 is a GUI display element (a customizationelement) for receiving a command to add or remove setting items to orfrom the menu portion 130 (that is, to change the display flags 314). Inthe case where, for example, the user wants to confirm the set value ofa setting item that is not displayed in the menu portion 130, the userpresses the customize button 146. The UI management unit 10 thendisplays, on the display screen 200 of the image forming apparatus, acustomization screen 400 an example of which is illustrated in FIG. 7.The customization screen 400 is a screen for selecting menu items 132 tobe displayed on the function screen 100 (especially the menu portion130). A header portion of the customization screen 400 is displayed in afixed region 410 of the display screen 200. This header portion displaysa label 412 (“Customize Features”) indicating the customization screen400, a cancel button 414 for canceling customization and returning backto the original function screen 100, and a customization complete button416 (“Done”) for reflecting, on the original function screen 100,setting changes made on the customization screen 400. In addition, allsetting items 422 for functions corresponding to the original functionscreen 100 are listed in a scrolling region 420. Each of the settingitems 422 has a field where an item name and a display flag (Hide orShow) are displayed. Scrolling for a display range of the scrollingregion 420 may display all the setting items regarding the function onthe customization screen 400.

When the user wants to change the display flag of a setting item 422among the setting items 422, the user touches, using his or her finger,the setting item 422 displayed in the scrolling region 420. Asillustrated in FIG. 8, the UI management unit 10 displays a dialog 425for setting the display flag of the touched setting item 422 in responseto this touch operation. Choices that are “Hide” (not display) and“Show” (display) are arranged in the dialog 425. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 8, the dialog 425 for the setting item “Preset”(preset information) is displayed, and the value “Hide” is currentlyselected as the display flag. When the user wants the setting item“Preset” to be displayed in the menu portion 130 of the function screen100 for copy, the user touches and selects the choice “Show” in thedisplayed dialog 425. When the user wants to hide a setting item 422having a display flag of “Show” and displayed in the menu portion 130,the user calls the dialog 425 by touching the setting item 422 andselects the choice “Hide” through a touch operation. Changing thedisplay flag through such an operation affects the setting informationon the work memory. When the user presses the customization completebutton 416 after changing in such a manner the display flags of allsetting items 422 that the user has determined need to be changed, theUI management unit 10 forms the menu portion 130 on the basis of thesetting information resulting from the change and held in the workmemory. Thus, the changed menu portion 130 is displayed on the displayscreen 200. The user confirms, in the menu portion 130, the set valuesof the setting items newly set to be displayed as a result of thechange, and adds changes to the set values if necessary through theoperation described above. Note that when the customization completebutton 416 is pressed, the UI management unit 10 may save, in the usersettings 52 of the user, the setting states of the display flags of thesetting items displayed at that moment on the customization screen 400.

In the case where the user also wants to use the changed menu portion130 the next time and subsequent times when the user uses the imageforming apparatus, the user causes the footer portion 140 to bedisplayed by scrolling the display screen 200 (see FIG. 4C) and pressesthe save button 144. In response to this operation, the customizationmanagement unit 40 reflects (for example, overwrites), in the usersettings 52 of the user in the setting holding unit 50, the settinginformation on the work memory at the moment when the save button 144 ispressed.

Next, an example of a process performed by the UI mechanism of the imageforming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

The procedure illustrated in FIG. 9 indicates a process executed whenthe user presses the button for the copy function on the home screen.

In this case, the UI management unit 10 determines whether the user whois currently operating has been authenticated (S10). In the case wherethe user has been authenticated, the user settings 52 (initial-screencustomization parameters) of the authenticated user are loaded (S12).

In S12, in the case where no user settings 52 corresponding to the userID of the authenticated user are present in the setting holding unit 50,if the setting holding unit 50 holds group settings 54 corresponding toa group to which the user belongs (the group being determined withreference to a user information database, which is not illustrated), thegroup settings 54 are loaded. In the case where no such group settingsare present either, the common settings 56 are loaded. In such a manner,setting information defining an initial screen (a function screen 100displayed when a function is called from the home screen) for theauthenticated user is loaded in order of priority, that is, in the orderof the user settings 52 specific to the user, the group settings 54 ofthe group to which the user belongs, and the common settings 56.

In the case where it is determined in S10 that the user who is currentlyoperating has not been authenticated, the UI management unit 10 loadsthe common settings 56 (common initial-screen customization parameters)into the work memory (S14).

Next, the UI management unit 10 displays, on the display screen 200 ofthe image forming apparatus, the function screen 100 for the copyfunction in accordance with the setting information loaded into the workmemory (S16). In this case, when the menu portion 130 is displayed inthe scrolling region 220 of the display screen 200, the menu portion 130displays, as the menu items 132 (see FIG. 4B), setting items whosedisplay flags indicate “Show” (display) in the setting informationregarding the copy function in the work memory, and does not displaysetting items whose display flags indicate “Hide” (not display).

Hereinafter, the UI management unit 10 periodically monitors touchoperations performed by the user on the displayed function screen 100(S18, S20, S24, and S28).

That is, the UI management unit 10 monitors whether the start button 114(see FIGS. 4A to 4C) is pressed (S18). Upon detecting that the startbutton 114 is pressed, the UI management unit 10 commands an applicationfor the copy function to execute copy processing in accordance with thesetting information regarding the copy function in the work memory(S29).

In the case where the UI management unit 10 detects a screen scrolloperation performed by the user (Yes in S20), the UI management unit 10performs scrolling for a display range of the scrolling region 220 ofthe display screen 200 in response to the scroll operation (S22).

In the case where the UI management unit 10 detects that a menu item 132among the menu items 132 in the menu portion 130 is pressed by the user(Yes in S24), the UI management unit 10 displays, in a pop-up manner,the dialog 138 (see FIG. 6) for the set value corresponding to the menuitem 132 (S26). When the user performs an operation to change the setvalue in the dialog 138, the set value corresponding to the menu item132 in the work memory is changed in response to the operation.

Moreover, the UI management unit 10 monitors the customize button 146(S28). In the case where the UI management unit 10 detects that thecustomize button 146 is pressed (Yes in S28), the process proceeds toS30 of the procedure illustrated in FIG. 10.

In the case where all the determination results in S18, S20, S24, andS28 are No, the process returns to S18 and the procedure is repeated.Note that the order in which determinations for S18, S20, S24, and S28are performed is not limited to the one illustrated in FIG. 9, and thedeterminations may be performed in any order.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, in S30, the UI management unit 10 displaysthe customization screen 400 (see FIG. 7). Thereafter, the UI managementunit 10 periodically monitors touch operations performed by the user onthe displayed customization screen 400 (S32, S34, S38, and S42).

That is, the UI management unit 10 monitors whether the cancel button414 (see FIG. 7) is pressed (S32). In the case where the UI managementunit 10 detects that the cancel button 414 is pressed, the UI managementunit 10 closes the customization screen 400 (S46). In this case, thesetting states of the display flags of the setting items displayed onthe customization screen 400 are not saved, and display of the menuportion 130 of the function screen 100 is not affected.

In the case where the UI management unit 10 detects a screen scrolloperation performed by the user (Yes in S34), the UI management unit 10performs scrolling for a display range of the scrolling region 420 inresponse to the scroll operation (S36).

Moreover, in the case where the UI management unit 10 detects that asetting item 422 among the setting items 422 in the scrolling region 420is pressed by the user (Yes in S38), the UI management unit 10 displays,in a pop-up manner, the dialog 425 (see FIG. 8) for switching thedisplay flag of the setting item 422 (S40). When the user performs anoperation to change the set value in the dialog 425, the set valuecorresponding to the setting item 422 in the work memory is changed inresponse to the operation.

Moreover, the UI management unit 10 monitors whether the customizationcomplete button 416 is pressed (S42). In the case where thecustomization complete button 416 is not pressed, the process returns toS32. In the case where the customization complete button 416 is pressed,the customization management unit 40 saves, in the user settings 52 ofthe user, the values of the display flags of the setting items in thework memory (S44). The UI management unit 10 then closes thecustomization screen 400 (S46).

The UI mechanism according to the exemplary embodiment has beendescribed above.

Information processing in the UI mechanism of the image formingapparatus described above as an example is realized by causing, forexample, a computer to execute a program corresponding to theabove-described functions of the image forming apparatus. In this case,the computer has a circuit configuration in which, for example, amicroprocessor such as a central processing unit (CPU), memory devices(primary storage devices) such as a random access memory (RAM) and aread-only memory (ROM), a controller that controls secondary storagedevices such as a flash memory, a solid-state drive (SSD), and a harddisk drive (HDD), various input-output (I/O) interfaces, a networkinterface for performing control for connection with networks such as alocal area network are, as hardware devices, connected to each othervia, for example, a bus. A program in which the content of processingfor these functions is described is saved in a secondary storage devicesuch as a flash memory among the secondary storage devices via, forexample, a network, and the program is installed into the computer. Theprogram stored in the secondary storage device is loaded into the RAMand executed by the microprocessor, which is for example a CPU, and as aresult a group of function modules an example of which has beendescribed above is realized.

The image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment hasbeen described above, but a UI mechanism having substantially the samecharacteristics may be used in processing apparatuses other than theimage forming apparatus. Examples of the processing apparatuses includeprocessing apparatuses that execute processing according to somefunctions, that have groups of setting items for the respectivefunctions, and that receive, for each setting item, setting processingfrom the user through a screen. Examples of the processing apparatusesinclude a kiosk terminal and a video device.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention has been provided for the purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modificationsand variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical applications, therebyenabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited tothe particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of theinvention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A processing apparatus comprising: afunction-screen processing unit that arranges setting-item elements inorder, the setting-item elements being display elements corresponding torespective setting items to be displayed, the setting items being aportion of a group of setting items corresponding to a function providedto a user, and that performs processing for presenting, to the user, afunction screen on which a customization element that is a displayelement for receiving a request for a customization operation isarranged after the arranged group of setting-item elements; and acustomization-screen processing unit that performs, in a case where theuser has performed an operation to request the customization operationon the customization element within the presented function screen,processing for presenting, to the user, a customization screen throughwhich, for each of the setting items in the group of setting itemscorresponding to the function, specification of whether the setting itemis to be displayed is received.
 2. The processing apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising: an authenticating unit that performsauthentication of users who use the processing apparatus; and a storageunit that stores, for each of the users, display-setting informationthat specifies the setting items to be displayed on the function screento be provided to the user, wherein the function-screen processing unitgenerates, in accordance with the display-setting informationcorresponding to a user authenticated by the authenticating unit amongthe users, the function screen to be presented to the user, and thecustomization-screen processing unit updates, in accordance with thespecification performed by the user on the customization screen, thedisplay-setting information corresponding to the user and stored in thestorage unit.
 3. The processing apparatus according to claim 2, whereinthe storage unit further stores, as a piece of display-settinginformation included in the display-setting information specifying thesetting items to be displayed on the function screen, commondisplay-setting information common to the users, and the function-screenprocessing unit generates, in a case where the display-settinginformation corresponding to the user authenticated by theauthenticating unit is not stored in the storage unit, the functionscreen to be presented to the user, in accordance with the commondisplay-setting information.
 4. An image forming apparatus comprising: afunction-screen processing unit that arranges setting-item elements inorder, the setting-item elements being display elements corresponding torespective setting items to be displayed, the setting items being aportion of a group of setting items corresponding to a function providedto a user, and that performs processing for presenting, to the user, afunction screen on which a customization element that is a displayelement for receiving a request for a customization operation isarranged after the arranged group of setting-item elements; and acustomization-screen processing unit that performs, in a case where theuser has performed an operation to request the customization operationon the customization element within the presented function screen,processing for presenting, to the user, a customization screen throughwhich, for each of the setting items in the group of setting itemscorresponding to the function, specification of whether the setting itemis to be displayed is received, wherein in a case where the functionscreen is a function screen for a copy function or a print function, thefunction-screen processing unit performs processing for presenting, tothe user as the function screen, a function screen on which anumber-of-copies input element for receiving input of a number of copiesto be made or a number of copies to be printed is arranged in a regionto be first displayed on a display of the image forming apparatus in acase where a command to display the function screen is received, thegroup of setting-item elements is arranged after the number-of-copiesinput element, and the customization element is further arranged afterthe group of setting-item elements.
 5. A non-transitory computerreadable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute aprocess for a user interface of a processing apparatus, the processcomprising: arranging setting-item elements in order, the setting-itemelements being display elements corresponding to respective settingitems to be displayed, the setting items being a portion of a group ofsetting items corresponding to a function provided by the processingapparatus to a user; performing processing for presenting, to the user,a function screen on which a customization element that is a displayelement for receiving a request for a customization operation isarranged after the arranged group of setting-item elements; andperforming, in a case where the user has performed an operation torequest the customization operation on the customization element withinthe presented function screen, processing for presenting, to the user, acustomization screen through which, for each of the setting items in thegroup of setting items corresponding to the function, specification ofwhether the setting item is to be displayed is received.